Ball grip compression fitting

Abstract

A connector is used for terminating an electrical cable, such as a metal clad cable, cord grip, and tray cable, and provides a compression fitting to secure and ground the cable. The connector includes a connector body, a compression nut, and a compression grommet retained therebetween. A gripping member and/or a grounding member is embedded within the grommet for creating a mechanical grip with the cable and providing a grounding pathway, respectively. Tightening the compression nut to the connector body correspondingly compresses the grommet to create a watertight seal with the cable so that no fluid, dirt or debris can pass through the connector. Such tightening also urges the gripping member to form a mechanical grip with the cable for securing the cable and maintaining the watertight seal. Moreover, the grounding member may include an electrically conductive grounding ball that forms the grounding path between the connector and the armor portion of the cable upon tightening the compression nut to the connector body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector for retaining a cable to an opening, comprising:
 a connector body defining a distal end and an opposite proximal end, and having an axial hole extending through the distal and proximal ends for receiving the cable; 
 a tightening member movably engaged to the proximal end of the connector body; 
 a compression member retained between the connector body and the tightening member, the compression member defining a through-hole having an inner wall for receiving the cable passing through the connector and configured to fittingly grip the cable to form a watertight seal when the tightening member is tightened to the connector body; and 
 a gripping member embedded to the compression member and adapted to form a mechanical grip with the cable when the tightening member is tightened to the connector body such that the mechanical grip secures the cable and maintains the watertight seal, wherein tightening the tightening member to the connector body correspondingly strengthens the mechanical grip. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector body comprises a first outer threaded region located at the distal end for engaging the opening, and a second outer threaded region located at the proximal end for engaging the tightening member. 
     
     
       3. The connector according to  claim 2 , wherein the tightening member comprises a generally annular compression nut defining a through-hole and configured to align with the axial hole, and including a first end having an inner threaded section for engaging the second outer threaded region of the connector body, and an opposite second end having an angled wall slanted inwardly such that a diameter of the through-hole of the compression nut decreases in a direction toward the second end. 
     
     
       4. The connector according to  claim 3 , wherein the connector body further comprises an angled wall located at the proximal end and slanted such that the diameter of the axial hole gradually increases in size in the direction toward the proximal end to form a tapered section. 
     
     
       5. The connector according to  claim 4 , wherein the tapered section defines a frustum for retaining a corresponding portion of the compression member. 
     
     
       6. The connector according to  claim 4 , wherein the axial hole further comprises an end stop located between the distal and proximal ends of the connector body for preventing the compression member from shifting into the distal end of the connector body. 
     
     
       7. The connector according to  claim 4 , wherein the compression member further comprises a generally annular resilient grommet having a first beveled edge corresponding to the angled wall of the connector body, and an oppositely located second beveled edge corresponding to the angled wall of the compression nut. 
     
     
       8. The connector according to  claim 3 , wherein the connector body further comprises a first angled wall located between the distal and proximal ends and slanted such that the diameter of the axial hole gradually increases in size in the direction toward the proximal end to form a first tapered section, and a second angled wall located at the proximal end and slanted such that the diameter of the axial hole gradually increases in size in the direction toward the proximal end to form a second tapered section. 
     
     
       9. The connector according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second tapered sections define a first frustum and a second frustum, respectively, for retaining corresponding portions of the compression member. 
     
     
       10. The connector according to  claim 8 , wherein the axial hole further comprises an end stop located between the distal and proximal ends of the connector body for preventing the compression member from shifting into the distal end of the connector body. 
     
     
       11. The connector according to  claim 8 , wherein the compression member further comprises a generally annular resilient grommet having a first beveled edge corresponding to the first angled wall of the connector body, and an oppositely located second beveled edge corresponding to the angled wall of the tightening member, and a third beveled edge located between the first and second beveled edges and corresponding to the second angled wall of the connector body. 
     
     
       12. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping member comprises at least one gripping ball. 
     
     
       13. The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the gripping member further comprises at least two gripping balls coupled together by a coupling member. 
     
     
       14. The connector of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two gripping balls are the same size. 
     
     
       15. The connector of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two gripping balls vary in size. 
     
     
       16. The connector of  claim 1 , the compression member further including at least one pre-formed hole configured to receive the gripping member, such that the gripping member is at least partially embedded in the compression member by a form or pressure fit. 
     
     
       17. The connector of  claim 16 , further comprising a gripping member attached to the compression member and adapted to form a mechanical grip with the cable when the tightening member is tightened to the connector body such that the mechanical grip secures the cable and maintains the watertight seal, wherein tightening the tightening member to the connector body correspondingly strengthens the mechanical grip. 
     
     
       18. The connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a grounding member attached to the compression member, and adapted to provide a grounding path between the cable and the connector by tightening the tightening member to the connector body. 
     
     
       19. A connector for retaining and terminating a metal clad electrical cable to an opening, comprising;
 a connector body defining a distal end and an opposite proximal end, and having an axial hole extending through the distal and proximal ends for receiving the cable; 
 a tightening member movably engaged to the proximal end of the connector body; 
 a compression member retained between the connector body and the tightening member, the compression member defining a through-hole having an inner wail for receiving the cable passing through the connector and configured to fittingly grip the cable to form a watertight seal when the tightening member is tightened to the connector body; and 
 a grounding member embedded to the compression member, and adapted to provide a grounding path between the cable and the connector, wherein tightening the tightening member to the connector body provides the grounding path. 
 
     
     
       20. A connector for retaining and terminating a metal cad electrical cable to an opening, comprising:
 a connector body defining a distal end and an opposite proximal end, and having an axial hole extending through the distal and proximal ends for receiving the cable; 
 a compression nut movably engaged to the proximal end of the connector body; 
 a compression grommet retained between the connector body and the compression nut, the compression grommet defining a through-hole having an inner wall for receiving the cable passing through the connector and configured to fittingly grip the cable to form a watertight seal when the compression nut is tightened to the connector body; 
 at least one gripping ball embedded to the compression grommet and adapted to form a mechanical grip with the cable such that tightening the compression nut to the connector body strengthens the mechanical grip to secure the cable and maintain the watertight seal; and at least one grounding ball embedded to the compression grommet and adapted to provide a grounding path between the cable and the connector by tightening the compression nut to the connector body.